Device for stimulating the scalp



Oct. 5, 1954 E. E. ACHBERGER 2,690,746

DEVICE FOR STIMULATING THE SCALP Filed Jan. 2, 1953 INVENTOR. Eluaon E. Acueaaeaa ATTQANEY Patented Oct. 5, 1954 DEVICE FOR STIMULATING THE SCALP Eldon E. Achberger, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Sylvester A. Pitzen, Fond du Lac, Wis.

Application January 2, 1953, Serial No. 329,210

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in devices and methods for stimulating the scalp to contribute to the health, natural beauty, and growth of hair.

It has been discovered that the steady application for substantial periods of time of a moderate lifting pull to hairs adjacent the line of recession will increase circulation of blood to the scalp, hail follicles, and hair roots better than by massage. Massage is of value only in the keeping up of the general health of the entire scalp, while pulling the hair at localized areas with a steady lifting pull increases the suppleness of the scalp and stimulates the flow of blood in the scalp tissues at such local area.

It is an object of this invention therefore to provide a device which may be easily applied to the hair and furnish a continuous steady lifting pull to the scalp at desired areas of treatment.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a device which is economical to make, neat and uncumbersome in appearance and usable without special skill in the application thereof.

A still further object is to provide a method of stimulating the scalp and aiding circulation therein in a manner better than heretofore obtained by massage.

These objects are obtained by combining a hair gripper with a relatively soft lifting spring. The hair gripper has jaws which will readily engage and hold hair between them. The lifting spring presses against the scalp at places spaced from such jaws. Thus such jaws, acting through the hairs gripped thereby, apply a continuous lifting pull to the scalp at the area around the follicles of the hair so gripped. Such continuous lifting pull may be applied daily for a prescribed time and several of the devices may be used on one head. In addition to affecting circulation of blood to the particular area of the scalp, it is believed that the prolonged lift on a single hair affects circulation of blood to the follicle of such hair as well as to adjacent folholes.

The novel features, which are considered characteristic of the invention, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a view in side elevation of a device embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation of such device;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of such device;

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of such device with the hair gripper opened and the lifting spring depressed prior to the gripping of hair;

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of such device after hair has been gripped and while the lifting spring is applying a lifting pull to the hair and associated scalp; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

The device shown in the drawings is composed of two principal cooperating elements, the hair gripper and the lifting spring. The hair gripper comprises a left-hand lever I0 and right-hand lever 12, which have interfitting hubs M and 16 (see Fig. 3) apertured to receive a pivot l8 by which the levers arev pivotally mounted. Each lever has a handle portion 20 by which they may be gripped and squeezed to separate the jaws. The lower end of the levers are provided with elongated jaws 22 which are adapted to grip hairs between them. The jaws are resiliently forced to hair gripping position (see Fig. 5) by a U- shaped spring 24, the bridge of which seats in a peripheral groove in a washer 26 staked on the pivot I 8. The outer ends of the spring seat in recesses 28 on the backs of the handles 20 to force the handles apart and hold the spring in the peripheral groove of the washer. The hair gripper may be made of moulded plastic or the like and thus keep weight to a minimum. Other materials which may be easily cleaned can also be used.

The lifting spring 30 is of the ribbon type and is about as wide as the length of the jaws 22. It has a central raised portion or bridge 32 having a slot 34 loosely receiving the lower legs of the levers I I3 and I2 in either closed or open position. The slot 34 is only slightly wider than the thickness of such legs so that the head of the pivot 18 and the washer 26 form bearings which engage such central raised portion to transmit pressure from the lifting spring to the hair gripper. The downwardly outward sloping legs of the spring 33 terminate in curved feet 36 which in use bear against the scalp at places spaced from the jaws 22. The feet 36 will easily slide relative to the hair and scalp as the spring is depressed. The levers l0 and I2 are assembled through the slot 36 before the pivot i3 is inserted. Thereafter the spring is held on the hair gripper by the cooperation of jaws 22 and pivot head and Washer.

In Fig. 4 there is illustrated the manner of applying the device to the hair and scalp of the user. The feet 36 are first seated on the scalp in the area which needs stimulation, the handles 20 are forced together to open jaws 22 and then while so held pressed downwardly toward the scalp. The jaws 22 are pushed in amongest the hairs, some of which are gathered between such jaws. At the same time the spring 30 is tensioned by the lowering of portion 32 and spreading of feet 36. While the gripper is held down, the handles 20 are gradually released to permit the jaws 22 to grip the hair as shown in Fig. 5. Finally the downward pressure is released and the central portion 32 allowed to rise under the force of spring 30. This places a lifting pull on the hairs, raising the scalp at the roots thereof. The feet 36 at the same time push down on the scalp surrounding such roots. The lifting pull will continue while the device is in place, thus constantly providing a stimulating action which increases circulation of blood to the scalp and follicles in the immediate area.

It has been found that a pull of around 3 /2 pounds is satisfactory and not uncomfortable. However, this amount is not critical and may be varied within the limits of practicalness. It cannot be too powerful or it will be uncomfortable and it must be strong enough to raise the scalp even if only slightly from its unlifted position.

Although only one embodiment of the invention is shown and described herein, it will be understood that this application is intended to cover such changes or modifications as come within the spirit of the invention or scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A device for treatment of scalp and hair comprising a pair of pivoted levers having hair engaging portions resiliently urged toward each other, a pivot for said levers, a lifting spring having a central portion and end portions spaced outwardly from said central portion, said end portions being adapted to rest on the scalp, said spring being loosely carried by said levers with said central portion engaging said pivot to apply lifting force to said levers.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said levers have transverse jaws at the ends thereof adapted to engage and hold a plurality of hairs.

3. A scalp stimulating device comprising a pair of levers, a pivot interconnecting said levers intermediate the ends thereof, a U-type spring mounted on said pivot and urging the lower ends of said levers together, a pair of transverse jaws secured to said ends and adapted to engage and hold hair therebetween, and a flat spring having a raised central portion and two lowered curved feet, said central portion having a slot through which said levers extend to hold said spring loosely on said levers between said jaws and said pivot, said spring being stressed between said feet and central portion by said pivot engaging said central portion as said jaws are lowered to a line passing through said feet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,281,487 Beshgeturian Oct. 15, 1918 2,214,233 McCormick Sept. 10, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 81,221 Austria Sept. 10, 1920 OTHER REFERENCES Journal Amer. Med. Ass., vol. 139, N0. 13, March 26, 1949, pp. 840-844. Copy in Div. 55. 

